Blowpipe apparatus.



' W. G. BUGKNAM.

BLOWPIPE APPARATUS.

' APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 5, 191a.

Patented May 12, 1914.,

a SHEETS-8HEET 1.

WITNESSES mom/Er.

Patented May 12, 1914;

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

no h r win/E8858 UNITED sTATEs PATENT oFFroE.

WORTHiY C. BUCKNAM, OF JERSEY "CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOK T DAVIS- BOUBNONVILLE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 5, 1913. SerialNo. 788,222.

BLOWPIPE APPARATUS.

Patented May 1 4;, 1914.

'NAM, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Marion, Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Blowpipe Apparatus, of which the following'is a specification.

This invention relates to metal-cutting apparatus of the kind wherein the cutting, socalled, is effected by a jet or 'ets of oxygen acting in conjunction with a eating jet or jets. The app-.uratus more particularly one for mechanically propelling the jets so as to follow the contour of an object to be severe-d, for example a rail, the inventionhaving for its object to provide an eflicient and comparatively simple apparatus whereby cuts of this character can be mad accurately and very expeditiously. J

The invention is herein disclosed in its preferred embodiment, but the principles 0f construction andanode of operation may be embodied in numerous specifically difi'er-' ent devices.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the said preferred form of the inventionLFigure 1 shows the device in front elevation applied to a rail which has been partially cut, through the operation of one part of the apparatus. The torch is shown mounted inthe left-hand part of the apparatus, two other positions at this side being indicated by dotted lines and corresponding positions being indicated by dotted lines at the right-halal"side of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is, a similar view of. the apparatus without the torch and with the movable parts shown in different positions from Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, the supporting frame and the primaryoperating shaftbeing sectioned for clearness of illustration and the rail being indicated by dotted lines. The torch-holder is shownmounted in one of the sockets therefor. but for simplicity of illustration the torch is omitted. Fig. 4

' is, a fragmentary sectional plan view illus- I trating part of the gearing and the lunged joint between the frame parts.

The jet-deliveringmeans or cutting device proper may be of any suitable construction. It will be apparent that it could; be

'a built-in part of the apparatus, but preferably it is attachable and detachable, and, as hereinafter described, interchangeable between the two parts of the apparatus, 30 that one cutting device serves for both sides of the rail. 7

Tlhc construction illustrated is designed to accouiniodatc a standard form of cutting torch. designated 10 in Fig. l. struction and operation-of such torches are well known in the art. and therefore do not call for detailed explanation. For a bettcr understanding of the construct-ion of the general kind of torch illustrated, reference may be had to my prior Patent No. 1,044,7-t1, dated November 19, 1912, for cutting torch.

The. combustible gas. as acetylene, is supplied throu-gh the flexible tube 11, and the oxygen, both for cutting and through the flexible connection 12. In some torches the supplies of oxygen for cutting and heating are led through separate flexible tubes. In'tihelype of torch illustrated, the oxygen 'straamjs divided by branched passages within t'ljte torch, the flow of hcat.

111g oxygen beriigaccurately regulated by a needle valve 13 and the cutting oxygen being adapted to be turned on and ofi by a valve l-l.-\vhilc a common valve 15 may be used to turn the oxygen and acetylene for all the jets on and otf simultaneously; The gases proceed through the torch; the oxygen and acetylene for the heating jet or jets are mixed bysuitable provisions: and the cutting oxygen is (lcliv'ercd from an orifice 16,

heating,

The conwhile the heating jetsformed of the com-- buslihlo mixture. emerge from the orifices 17. There may beone or more of the heating jets: and. while the. heating and cutting "jets are shown as discharged from a single 11ozzle or tip 18, it will be understood that they could be discharged from separate nozzles apparatus.

at its lower end meshing with another bevel gear 48 on the same shaft with a pinion 49, the latter meshing with a gear 50 on the shaft 32- of the rotary member 30. Through these instrumentalities, turning of the handle 51 causes the rotary member to turn in a substantially regular manner irrespective of the depressions and elevations in the cam.

The left-hand part of the apparatus is a substantial duplicate of the right-hand part, though the shape of the cam is naturally different because of the difierence in the two sides of the rail. Furthermore, since as indicated in Fig. l the depth of the right-hand cutrenders it unnecessary for the nozzle of the torch to follow closely into the corners of the left-hand side of the rail, the low parts of the cam 31 corresponding to these internal corners, may be made shallow as may be desired The rotary member 30 mounted on its shaft 32 the slide 34, the traveler 36, the spring 53", the shaft 46 and the gearing 47, 48*, 49 and 50 maybe all substantially like the similar parts at the righthand side of the A desirable feature of the invention resides in the construction whereby a single torch may be used ineither part of the apparatus and quickly transferred from one to the other. 1 01' this purpose the slides or torch-bearing members 34, 34* are provided with tubular projecting sockets 55, f0r' the reception of a stem 66 projecting at right-angles from a torch-holder 57. The,

latter is'm the nature of a split collar, within which the cylindrical body of the torch 10 may be clamped, and may be provided with a stem 56 at each side. The stem is adapted'to be held frictionally in the socket andto be readily"inserted and removed therefrom; and an important detail is the provision of means for locating the torchholder in proper angular relation with refcrenc'e'to the driving and guiding mechanism. This is accomplished in a simple manner by providing the stem of thetorclhig holder with a key or keys 58, which enga" in key-ways 59, 59 cut in the interior of the sockets 55, 55". The torch can thus be positioned in proper angular relation at once, and no time is lost in transferring the torch from one side of the apparatus to the other.

L30 cut a rail, the apparatus is clamped theiieon as shown in the views. The righthand side is preferably cut, first, and while the cut may progress either up or down, the torch in its starting position is preferably directed downward, so as to deliver its jets against the outer edge of the basal flange.

' The jets having been established, the handle v 51 is rotated, so as to cause the jets to progress inward across the flange. thence upward along the web, and f nally outward betrolling the path of the jets throughout the operation in the manner already described. This produces a cut substantially as shown in Fig; 1, that is to say, the web, the tread and the right-hand basal flange of the rail are entirely cut through, and the cut also BX, tends a certain distance into the left-hand flanges. The driving mechanisms at the two sides of the apparatus are geared togethcr and driven by the common primary shaft 37 and theurrangemcut is preferably such that when the right-hand cut has been completed the left-hand mechanism isready to. receive the torch in the position shown in full lines in Fig. l. The torch is quickly transferred from theright-haiul part of the apparatus to the left-hand )a'rt,and the op erator then turns the other handle 52, so as to cause the jets to travel downward at the left'hand side of the rail. The upper flange is thus cut through, and when the upper end of the-first cut is reached the jets may. be turned off, to be reestablished again when the. nozzle is opposite the basal flange; The Wholeoperation can be performed in an exceedingly short space of time, and produces a clean and satisfactory cut. The provision of the two handles 51, 52 is desirable, because it enables the operator to turn both in the same direction. v

Both the cams 31, 31 and the shoes 23, A are detachable, as shown, so that by substituting different sets of cams and shoes the apparatus may be adapted to cut rails or objects of different contours.

\Vhile the apparatus illustrated has been described in detail for clearness of understanding, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to details, nor is it limited to the application described. For example, similar principles of construction and operation would serve for weldin by the substitution ofa'welding torch in a cutting torch.

In certain ofiits aspects the present invention resembles that disclosed in my prior application Serial No. 743,768, filed January 23, 1913, and comes within the scope of the generic claims contained therein.

VVhat I claim new is:

1. A device adapted to be aiiixed'to a rail or the like for expeditiouslysevering the same by means of gases, comprising means of attachment to a rail or the like, a cutting torch movably supported by said attaching means, and mechanism distinct from the work for propelling and guiding said torch,

so as to cause its jets to travel across the "inner surfaces of the rail or the like and to turn the internal corners between the web and lateral projections thereof.

2. Apparatus of the characterdescribed,

comprising jet-delivering means, means for movably supporting the same 1n 0 erative neath the tread, the guiding means coni relation'to the side o'fa rail or .t 1e like,

the slide at the opposite side of axis from the delivery end of said jet-delivering means, and a cam track disposed for cooperation with said traveler to confine said delivery end to predetermined path.

l5, Mi apparatus of the character described, comprising a rotary member, means whereby heating and "cutting jets can be delivered in a plane intersecting the axis of rotation of said member, said means being connected with said member so as to be angularly propelled thereby and being .capable of moiement relativelyt-o said axis,

and a guide controlling said movement, in cmnbinntion 'with mechanical means fordriving saidrotary member in a substantially uniform manner. v

16. In an apparatus of the general char- :n-ler described, the combination of a suitable support, a rotary member, a slideengaging said rotary member, cam means con-' trolling the movement of said slide relative t said rotary member, jet-delivering means attachable to said slide in position to oper- 1 ate in a plane transverse to the axis of rota; tion of said rotary member, and means "for locating said jet-delivering means singularly in proper relation to said cam means. I

'17. l wn an apparatus of the general char:

acter described, the combination of a suit able support, a rotary member,-airfelementt adapted to be angularly driven by said ro'- tary meinber and also capable of mbvemnt relatively thereto, cam means torr'controlling the latter movement, detachable jet-delivering means carried by said element and directed in a plane transverse to the axis of rotation of said lrotary member, and means for locating said jet-delivering means angularly in properrelation to said cam qmeans.

38. Apparatus for rail-cutting and the like, comprising two parts adapted to be disposed at opposite sides of a rail or the like, each posed at opposite sides of a rail or the like,

each part comprising rotary driving mechanism, and guiding means, in combination with common means for driving the driving mechanisms of both parts ofthc apparatus.

20. Apparatus for rail-cutting and the like, comprising two parts adapted to be disposed at opposite sides" of a rail or the like, each part comprising rotary driving mechanism, guiding means, and an element turned by said driving mechanism and also moved in. an eccentric manner under the influence of said guiding means, in combine 'tion with. a cutting'torch andmca ns for ap' plying the same to either of said elements to operate in a plane transverse to the work.

21. Apparatus for rail-cutting and the like, comprising two parts adapted to be disposed at opposite sides of a rail or the like, each part comprising rotary driving mcchanisn'i, guiding means, and an element turned by said driving mechanism and also moved in an eccentric manner under the infllience of said guidingineaus, in co1nbination with a torch holder, and means for quickly sockcting the same to either of said elements.

22. Apparatus for rail-cutting and the like, comprising two parts adapted to be disposed atopposite sides of a rail or the 'like, each part comprising rotary driving mechanism, guiding means, and an element turned by said driving mechanism and also moved in an eccentric manner under themtlu'ence of said guiding means, in combinatioii'with a torch, means for quickly socket- .ing---the same to cither of said elements, and

means for locatin the torch in proper angular relation to t c guiding means of each part of the apparatus.

-23. Apparatus for rail-cutting or the like, comprising a'frame having two rela- 'tively movable parts adapted to be disposed at opposlte sides of a rail or the like, a rotary member mounted on each frame part,

' mechanism for driving said rotary members,

a cam track on each frame part, and a torch-V supporting element turned by said rotary member and guided by said cam trackso that the jets substantially follow the contour of the Work.

24. Apparatus for rail-cutting or the like, comprising a frame having two relatively movable parts adapted to be disposed at opposite sides of a rail or. the like, a rotary member mounted on each frame part, gearing carried by each frame part for driving the corresponding rotary. member, common means for operating said gearings, a cam track ion each frame part, and a torchsupporting? element turned by said rotary member and guided b said cam track so that the'jets substantia ly follow the contour of the work.

25. Apparatuplfor rail-cutting or the like, comprising two inged frame parts adapted to receive a tailor the like between them, a rotary member mounted on each frame part,

mechanism for drivin said rotary members,

a cam track on each rame part, and jet-delivering means adapted to be turned by said rotary member and guided by said cam track so that the jets substantially follow the contour of the Work.

2 6. Apparatus for raiLcuttinfg or the like, comprising two frame parts hinged above the rail and adapted ,to receive the same between them, rotary driving mechanism and guiding means mounted on each 1 0 

